Long time New York Times and New Yorker journalist, Seymour M. Hersh visited Lowell last Tuesday, at the Double Tree.

Hersh, who unveiled the My Lai Massacre in 1969 and was instrumental in exposing the atrocities of Abu Ghraib earlier this year, spoke to a crowd of over 250 people. The Pulitzer Prize winning journalist lectured on his newly released book, Chain of Command: The Road from 9/11 to Abu Ghraib, took questions from the audience, and had a book-signing after his talk. However, the author took the first hour to discuss his openly anti-war stance.

“Bush is not a liar.  And that is what scares me. He is convinced that he is doing the right thing. As much as I wish he did, he did not go to war for oil or Israel. No, he went because he truly believes he can create democracy in Iraq.  He went because of his ideology, but he is dead wrong.”

Hersh then laid out three consequences to Bush’s reelection that he foresaw. Sighting a recent decline in overseas sales by US corporations, like Euro Disney, he felt Europeans were protesting the election result and would steadly increase this rejection of American commodities. Additionally, he spoke of the declining US dollar that would continue to depreciate while the national debt rose.  Finally, the four time George Polk Award winner felt that European leaders would begin to take an active role in the talks between Israel and Palestine.

For years, Hersh has uncovered some of the most important news stories. He spoke briefly of the confidence and rapport that he has built up with insiders in both the White House and military. Recent contact with these people leaves Hersh nervous about the future of America.

“We are in for some very hard years ahead,” declared Hersh. “Bush needs more money and more troops.  Generals have told me that they need at least three more units to even establish order. I’m not suggesting that a draft is near, but they need troops.”

He continued, “You people here college age, 18-19 years old; need to think about these things. Bush cannot win this war. It is not an insurgence as we are told. No, this is an occupation and a war.  Look at your history books, occupiers don’t win.  The stay-behind operations of the Iraqis will continue as long as there is US occupation.”

Hersh felt the most likely scenario however, would be an increase in bombing.  “We have reporters imbedded in with the Marines and Army, but there are none on the aircraft carriers or at the Air Force bases. We do not know how much they are bombing now, so an increase would of course go unnoticed.”

Before fielding questions from the audience, the 67 year old journalist ended his talk with a memory of the late Robert Kennedy.  “Early on in the Vietnam War, Kennedy suggested that we (US leaders) should meet with the leaders of North Vietnam. He was met with near violent hostility. Today, the only way that we can end this war is to talk with the Sunni leadership. We need to talk with the very people we started the war with.”

The One World Series, a Middlesex Community College program, hosted the event.  According to the MCC website, the Series features “presentations that focus on concerns that challenge humanity in today’s world…..and celebrate MCC’s appreciation for diversity and support the College’s commitment to raising social consciousness."